Green Practices in Hospitality: A Contingency Approach

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The topic of the manuscript is interesting, but considering the date of data collection it should be explained which are the withdraws/ limits from this point of view.

In the abstract, some analysed factors are not reported  - lines 16-18

In the Introduction - the hypothesis proposed (at the end of the manuscript) are missing. These hypotheses should be revealed before presenting the methodology and results.

In the methodology part, some information is repeating, please review lines 152-174.

In the results sections - the subtitles should be named using the same terminology as in the introduction part and hypothesis, for example: Age of hotels rather than simply Age 

Author Response

1. The topic of the manuscript is interesting but considering the date of data collection it should be explained which are the withdraws/ limits from this point of view. 

Thank you for this comment. Reviewer is true. On one hand, we have introduced this point in the limitations subtitle. On the other hand, we have updated some dates in method area and finally we have introduced the new ecological practices or relevant things related with environment which the analyzed hotels are doing nowadays in the results and discussion epigraphs.

2. In the abstract, some analysed factors are not reported  - lines 16-18 

Thanks for the recommendation. We have included all the most relevant factors in the summary (lines 16-22).

3. In the Introduction - the hypothesis proposed (at the end of the manuscript) are missing. These hypotheses should be revealed before presenting the methodology and results. 

Thank you for this comment. Reviewer is true. Hypotheses has been added.

4. In the methodology part, some information is repeating, please review lines 152-174. 

Thank you very much for the observations. Some modifications were made so as not to repeat information. In the same way, each step carried out in the investigation procedure was kept in detail.

5. In the results sections - the subtitles should be named using the same terminology as in the introduction part and hypothesis, for example: Age of hotels rather than simply Age 

Thank you for this observation. We have renamed the subtitles using the same terminology.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper has interesting theoretical and managerial implications. The research methodology is appropriate. However, the results are based on interviews of 6 years ago. Over years, technology has changed and also the perception of EMPs in the hotel business. An increasing number of small-medium hotels adopt EMPs (Buffa et al. 2019). The paper could be published after a comparison of the results obtained in 2013 with more recent interviews to the same hotels.

Being an exploratory study, the last part of the research should focus more on future studies.

Suggested references on EMPs in SMEs:

Buffa, F., Franch, M., & Rizio, D. (2018). Environmental management practices for sustainable business models in small and medium sized hotel enterprises. Journal of cleaner production, 194, 656-664.

Buffa, F., Franch, M., Martini, U., & Tamanini, A. (2018). Hotel Profiles Based on Environmental Management Practices: Evidence from a Study at an Alpine Destination. Sustainability, 10(12), 4531.

Author Response

1. The paper has interesting theoretical and managerial implications. The research methodology is appropriate. However, the results are based on interviews of 6 years ago. Over years, technology has changed and also the perception of EMPs in the hotel business. An increasing number of small-medium hotels adopt EMPs (Buffa et al. 2019). The paper could be published after a comparison of the results obtained in 2013 with more recent interviews to the same hotels. 

Thank you for this observation. It is true that the data collection is updated. That is why we have introduced it in the limitations. On the other hand, to improve the paper, according to this comment, we have check (1) the websites of the analyzed hotels; (2) their profiles in the web “trypadvisor” and finally (3) we have made some telephone calls to check if the analyzed hotels are doing new ecological practices or relevant things related with environment. It has been introduced in the end of the results “.7. Comparison of the results obtained with the present” and in the discussion. In addition, we have introduced a paragraph in the method to explain it.

2. Being an exploratory study, the last part of the research should focus more on future studies. 

Thank you very much for the recommendation. We have deepened this topic, suggesting future studies on the subject.

3.  Suggested references on EMPs in SMEs: 

Buffa, F., Franch, M., & Rizio, D. (2018). Environmental management practices for sustainable business models in small and medium sized hotel enterprises. Journal of cleaner production, 194, 656-664.

Buffa, F., Franch, M., Martini, U., & Tamanini, A. (2018). Hotel Profiles Based on Environmental Management Practices: Evidence from a Study at an Alpine Destination. Sustainability, 10(12), 4531.

Thank you for this suggestion. These references are very useful and, therefore, they have been added to reinforce literature review and some results.

They have the following number

(15) Buffa, F., Franch, M., Martini, U., & Tamanini, A. (2018)a. Hotel Profiles Based on Environmental Management Practices: Evidence from a Study at an Alpine Destination. Sustainability, 10(12), 4531.

(4)  Buffa, F., Franch, M., & Rizio, D. (2018)b. Environmental management practices for sustainable business models in small and medium sized hotel enterprises. Journal of cleaner production, 194, 656-664.

5. (x) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required

We have made a complete revision of the full text to English by an expert. We hope we have made all the required improvements.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

thank you for the review. I still think that the main problem of the paper is not having updated data. I know that it is difficult to have feedbacks by hoteliers. However, you should maybe explain this problem in the methodology adding the method you follow to reduce this limitation. This means explain why you checked environmental certification, in which period (what is at present). How many calls and in which period. This could be a second level of analysis that has the objective to reduce the limitation.

For future studies I mean:

- how the perception of environmental practices has changed;

- how technology has influenced environmental practices.

Practical path of research that a scholar could follow starting from your results. 

In the limitation, I would explain better the problem of having response. Why in 2013 the replied and now you have problems? Maybe the respondents are different and new manager are less sensitive to the problem? Or which are other reasons you can give?

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

We greatly appreciate the review. In the attached document we have explained point by point how we have incorporated all the observations and recommendations.

Best Regards

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Author/s,

thank you for your kind reply. I think the paper now is suitable to be published in the Journal. I suggest only to clarify the hypotheses. 

The hypotheses are:

Organisational behaviour regarding environmental management is determined by the following contingency factors....

Ha: The environment in which the hotel operates.
Hb: The size of the hotel.
Hc: The age of the hotel.
Hd: The environmental technology adopted and implemented by the hotel.
He: The type of clientele who use the hotel.
Hf: The gender of the hotel's owner-manager.

Thank you again for your effort in replying to my revisions.

Author Response

Thank you very much for the recommendations and the review. In the attached document you can find the specifications of the changes made.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf